Can A Welder Afford Rent in Los Angeles, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.9% of gross income.

Los Angeles rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Los Angeles median rent
$2,773/mo
Welder salary (California)
$60,664/yr
Rent as % of income
54.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,055, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,517/mo in rent. Los Angeles's median rent of $2,773 exceeds that threshold by $1,256/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 95.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a welder salary

Welder pay tracks the US median household income closely. Pipeline and underwater welders earn materially more. At the national-average welder salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,285 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These California cities have lower median rent than Los Angeles, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Sunnyvale, CA
$2,772/mo (54.8% of income)
Imperial Beach, CA
$2,772/mo (54.8% of income)
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
$2,772/mo (54.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Los Angeles

View full rent data for Los Angeles, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?

Median rent in Los Angeles is $2,773 a month. A typical welder in California earns about $60,664 a year, which makes that rent 54.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a welder afford in Los Angeles?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in California (~$60,664/yr) supports up to $1,517 a month in rent. Los Angeles's current median rent is $2,773/mo, which is $1,256/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a welder work to cover rent in Los Angeles?

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a welder in California works roughly 95.1 hours a month to cover Los Angeles's median rent of $2,773.

Where is rent cheaper than Los Angeles for a welder?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Sunnyvale ($2,772/mo), Imperial Beach ($2,772/mo), Rancho Cucamonga ($2,772/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived California state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Los Angeles, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.